To be honest I have had very few religious conversations in person with people, my most interesting discussions about my stance have been on here I think. I do however greatly look forward to seeing some of my family to see their reactions to me telling them I'm an atheist. Some of them are very religious.

To be honest I have had very few religious conversations in person with people, my most interesting discussions about my stance have been on here I think. I do however greatly look forward to seeing some of my family to see their reactions to me telling them I'm an atheist. Some of them are very religious.

That'll be fun. Some will say it's just a phase. Others will pray for your soul. Hopefully the family that matters most to you is understanding and don't change how they act around you.

"It was life,often unsatisfying, frequently cruel, usually boring, sometimes beautiful, once in awhile exhilarating." -Stephen King

Funnily enough, the most awkward discussion was with an atheist at an atheist get together. It was a party and I was kind of just there for the beer and to hang with a friend who invited me. The cohost of this shindig and I had just met so, I didn't know her at all. Not wanting to "get into it" with any complete stranger I took a neutral stance as a "free thinker" when the subject came around to "religion".

I told her I was raised around many different religions and was influence by both religious and non religious folk - which is quite true - and I left it at that. She stared at me for a minute with wide eyes and a smile and said, "Oh, well, so you really don't have a solid stance?" Then she kind of sighed and turned to go mingle elsewhere.

I didn't see it as awkward until much later. Maybe at the time I just failed to articulate that I'd been an atheist my entire life despite being raised around several religions. I really don't know what she thought but I think for some it might appear that one is either militant or an apologist and there is no middle ground.

Anyone who's ever known me knows that I actually don't give a fuck either way... although... I tend more toward activism these days. I actively don't give a shit.

A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move to higher levels. ~ Albert Einstein

Funnily enough, the most awkward discussion was with an atheist at an atheist get together. It was a party and I was kind of just there for the beer and to hang with a friend who invited me. The cohost of this shindig and I had just met so, I didn't know her at all. Not wanting to "get into it" with any complete stranger I took a neutral stance as a "free thinker" when the subject came around to "religion".

I told her I was raised around many different religions and was influence by both religious and non religious folk - which is quite true - and I left it at that. She stared at me for a minute with wide eyes and a smile and said, "Oh, well, so you really don't have a solid stance?" Then she kind of sighed and turned to go mingle elsewhere.

I didn't see it as awkward until much later. Maybe at the time I just failed to articulate that I'd been an atheist my entire life despite being raised around several religions. I really don't know what she thought but I think for some it might appear that one is either militant or an apologist and there is no middle ground.

Anyone who's ever known me knows that I actually don't give a fuck either way... although... I tend more toward activism these days. I actively don't give a shit.

I've had a coworker act similarly. He tends to be more vocal and he even states in the break room that he is "prejudice towards religious people." That's fine with me. But I tend to keep to myself until I'm asked. Even then, I still am open minded and don't knock someone down for believing in something I don't.

"It was life,often unsatisfying, frequently cruel, usually boring, sometimes beautiful, once in awhile exhilarating." -Stephen King

Funnily enough, the most awkward discussion was with an atheist at an atheist get together. It was a party and I was kind of just there for the beer and to hang with a friend who invited me. The cohost of this shindig and I had just met so, I didn't know her at all. Not wanting to "get into it" with any complete stranger I took a neutral stance as a "free thinker" when the subject came around to "religion".

I told her I was raised around many different religions and was influence by both religious and non religious folk - which is quite true - and I left it at that. She stared at me for a minute with wide eyes and a smile and said, "Oh, well, so you really don't have a solid stance?" Then she kind of sighed and turned to go mingle elsewhere.

I didn't see it as awkward until much later. Maybe at the time I just failed to articulate that I'd been an atheist my entire life despite being raised around several religions. I really don't know what she thought but I think for some it might appear that one is either militant or an apologist and there is no middle ground.

Anyone who's ever known me knows that I actually don't give a fuck either way... although... I tend more toward activism these days. I actively don't give a shit.

Ah the 'solid stance", revered by many, thought out by few.
People really seem to have to have their group supporters.

I was once told to argue from a specific point.........what point?
There are so many points, many ideas, many dogmas................

My most awkward conversation about atheism was by far when i had to pick up my great uncle. he is a 90 year old catholic priest and had no idea that i was atheist. for the first hour of the two hour car ride he complained that atheism was the biggest issue in the united states and that we should get rid of anyone who wasn't "properly god fearing." at this point i decided to let him know that atheist were not all evil and that i did not believe in any god or divinity. he responded with "oh" and, thanks to a broken radio, the second hour of the car ride was in complete silence. super awkward at the time but a funny story to tell now.

(07-02-2013 03:05 PM)blackwell Wrote: My most awkward conversation about atheism was by far when i had to pick up my great uncle. he is a 90 year old catholic priest and had no idea that i was atheist. for the first hour of the two hour car ride he complained that atheism was the biggest issue in the united states and that we should get rid of anyone who wasn't "properly god fearing." at this point i decided to let him know that atheist were not all evil and that i did not believe in any god or divinity. he responded with "oh" and, thanks to a broken radio, the second hour of the car ride was in complete silence. super awkward at the time but a funny story to tell now.

That's like a movie plot = ) And I wonder what ideas go through people's heads when they say they should "get rid of" them. I've heard that one before too.

"It was life,often unsatisfying, frequently cruel, usually boring, sometimes beautiful, once in awhile exhilarating." -Stephen King

Going to a Catholic funeral and not knowing what the fuck to do with the whole bread and wine thing.
Though I suspect I was the only awkward one there.
Also being on my knees infront of a Catholic priest was a bit awkward (same funeral).